Switch control mechanism



P 1945. J. H. HORMAN 2,385,626

SWITCH CONTROL MECHANISM Filed May 12, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEYS p 1945- J. H. HORMAN 2,385,626

SWITCH CONTROL MECHANISM Filed May 12, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Sept. 25, 1945 SWITCH CONTROL MECHANISM John H. Horman, Tuckahoe, N. Y., assignor, by

mcsne assignments, to Smaller War Plants Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of the United States Application May 12, 1943, Serial No. 486,681

17 Claims.

This invention relates to switch control mechanism.

An object of this invention is a control mechanism for a main switch and one or more auxiliary switches of such arrangement that an auxiliary switch can be actuated only after actuation of the main switch.

Another object of the invention is a control mechanism for a main switch and one or more auxiliary switches of such arrangement that return of the main switch to unactuated position automatically effects return of any actuated auxiliary switch to unactuated position.

A further object of the invention is a control mechanism for a main switch and one or more auxiliary switches of such arrangement that with the main switch open all the auxiliary switches are open and no one of them can be closed but that after the main switch is closed any auxiliary switch may be closed and upon opening of the main switch any closed auxiliary switch is automatically opened.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a frame movable between a first and a second position together with means for biasing the frame into its first position. The main switch is equipped with means effective upon change of the switch from open to closed condition to move the frame from its first to its second position and upon change from its closed to its open condition to allow return of the frame to its first position. Each auxiliary switch is provided with means biasing it toward open condition. The frame is provided with a plurality of notches in which are receivable pins forming parts of the auxiliary switches. The arrangement is such that the pins are received in the notches when the frame is in its first position and the switches are in open condition but are clear of said notches when the frame is in its second position. Thus, when the main switch is in open condition, the auxiliary switches are locked also in open condition. With the main switch in closed condition and the frame in its second position, each auxiliary switch is free for change from open to closed condition. The frame is provided with a resilient stop member individual to each auxiliary switch for co-operation with a second pin forming a part of said switch'to retain it in closed condition against the influence of the auxiliary switch bias. With the main switch closed and one or more auxiliary switches also closed, return of the main switch to open condition permits return of the frame from its second to its first position thereby releasing the actuated auxiliary switches from the frame carried stop members whereupon the actuated auxiliary switches are returned to open condition under the influence of their bias and the frame becomes again effective to lock them in open condition.

Instead of actuation of the frame by change of the main switch from open to closed condition, the frame may be actuated by the main switch upon change from closed to open position. Likewise, the spindles may be locked in closed condition or some may be locked in closed condition and others in open condition, from which condition they may be actuated to the reverse condition after movement of the frame from its first to its second position. In any arrangement, however, movement of the frame from its second to its first position effects automatic return to unactuated position of any actuated auxiliary switch.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of mechanism embodying the invention with the main and auxiliary spindles in switch-open position;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 4 with the main spindle and two auxiliary spindles in switch-closed position and the third in said open position;

Fig. 3 is a rear view;

Fig. 4 is an end view, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective of a detail.

On a plate 10 is slidably supported a frame II by pins Ina projecting through slots Ha. The

frame has a window I2 and is supported for vertical movement. A spindle I3 is journalled in the plate I0 and carries an eccentric M which lies in the path of an extension l5 from the frame H. Springs l6 bias the frame toward the spindle 13 to maintain contact between the projections l5 and eccentric M. The inter-engagement of the projection l5 and eccentric 14 effects reciprocation of the frame H upon rotation of the spindle I3 from its first position shown in Fig. 1 to its second position shown in Fig. 2. An operating button I! is carried by the spindle I3.

Three auxiliary spindles l8 are journalled in x the plate [0 and are provided with operating buttons 1811. Each spindle l3 and I8 carries an arm l9 which extends between two stops 20 and 2| serving to limit the extent of rotary movement of the spindle. Also supported by the plate l0 surrounding each spindle is a block 22 of insulating material on which are mounted stationary con tacts 23. A disk 24 of insulating material is fixed to each spindle and carries a movable contact for co-operation with the stationary contacts 23v Each arm I 9 for the spindles I8 is biased by a spring 28 toward the stop 2|, and the relation of the stop members 20 and 2! for the arm I9 of the spindle I3 is such that with the arm I9 engaging the stop member 29 the frame II is in its first position and with the arm engaging the stop 2| the frame I I is in its second position.

Each spindle I3 carries a pin consisting of radially extending portions 21 and 28 extending from the spindle parallel to the path of the frame II when th arm I9 engages the stop 20. A

perpendicular projection 29 extends from the.

frame I I above the window I2 and has notches 30 in which the pin portions 21 are receivable with the frame I I in its first position. When the frame i in its second position, the projection lies beyond the ends of the pin portion 2?. Below each spindle IS the frame II carries a resilient member or leaf spring 3I of such design and arrangement that the pin portion 28 wipes over it when the spindle is rotated to locate the arm I9 against the stop ZI with the member 3i yielding to permit such rotation. The length of the member 3| is such that when the spindle I8 is rotated to engage the arm I9 withthestop 2!, the pin portion 28 has cleared the end of the member 3i permitting the member 3i to swing into the path of the pin portion 28 to prevent return rotation of the spindle I8 under the influence of thespring 26.

.With the main spindle I3 and auxiliary spindles IS in the position shown in Fig. 1, the switches associated therewith preferably are in open condition and the auxiliary spindles are locked against rotation due to the pin portions 2'! being received in the notches 3B. Rotation of the spindle I3 from th position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 moves the frame I I from its first position to' its second position thereby releasing the pin portions 21 from the notches 3B whereupon any auxiliary spindle I8 may be. actuated. After actuationof an auxiliary spindle, it is latched in actuated position against the return action of the spring 26 by engagement with the pin portion 28 with the endof the member 3| as shown in Fig. 2. Any actuated auxiliary spindle will remain in actuated position as long as the main spindle is retained in its actuated position unless it is restored to unactuated position manually as above noted. However, upon return of the spindle l3 vto its original position, the frame II moves toward its first position under the action of the springs I6 to disengage the members 3| from the pin portions 28 of actuated spindles I8 thereby permitting such spindles to return to original position under the influence of the springs 26 after which the notches 39 again receive the pin portions 27 to lock theauxiliary spindles with the frame II in its first position. I

I claim: I

1. A device of the character described comprising a main switch element movable between a first and a second position, one or more auxiliary switch elements movable between first and second positions, means common to all said auxiliary switch elements for locking them in their first positions, and means efiective upon movement of said main switch element from its first position into its second position to render said auxiliary switch element locking means inoperative.

2. A device according to claim 1 and including means individual to each auxiliary switch element biasing it toward its first position, and means individual to each auxiliary switch element effective upon movement of the auxiliary switch element to its second position with the main switch element in its second position to hold the auxiliary switch element against its bias.

3. A device according to claim 1 and including means for automatically restoring said auxiliary switch element locking means upon return of said main and auxiliaryswitch elements to their first positions.

4 A device according to claim 1 and including means individual to each auxiliary switch element biasing it toward its first position, means individual to each auxiliary switch element effective. after movement of the auxiliary switch element to its second position with the main switch element in its second position to hold the auxiliary switch element against its bias, and mean for automatically moving th auxiliary switch element by its biasing means upon return of said main switch element to its first position and also release the auxiliary switch elements from their locking means and return the auxiliary switch elements to their first positions under the bias influence.

5. A device of the character described comprising a main switch element movable between a first and a second position, one'or more auxiliary switch elements movable between first and second positions, a frame movable between a first and a second position, means on said frame and auxiliary switch elements inter-engageable with the frame and said switch elements in their first positions to lock them in their first positions, and means eifective upon actuation of the main switch element from'its firstto its second position to move said frame into its second position to render inoperative said auxiliary switch element locking means.

6. A device according to claim 5 and including means individual to each auxiliary switch element biasing it toward its first position, and means individual to each auxiliary switch element effective upon movement of the auxiliary switch element to its second position with the main switch element in its second position to hold the auxiliary switch element against its bias.

7; A device according to claim 5 characterized by means effective upon return of said main switch element to its first position to restore any actuated auxiliary switch element and said auxiliary switch element locking means;

8. A device according to claim 5 characterized by means individual to each auxiliary switch element biasing it toward its first position, means individual to each auxiliary switch element'effective upon movement of the auxiliary switch element -,to its second position with the main switch element in its second position to nullify the auxiliary switch element bias, and means biasing said frame toward its first position. I

9. A device of the character described comprising a main switch element movable between a first and a second position, one or more auxiliary switch elements movable between first and second positions, a, frame. movable between a first and a second-position, pins carried by said auxiliary switch element, notches in said frame for receiving said pins with the frame and auxiliary switchelementin their first position, and

means effective upon actuation of the main switch element from its first to its second position to move said frame into its second position to disengage said notches and pins.

10. A device according to claim 9 characterized by means individual to each auxiliary switch element biasing it toward its first position, and means individual to each auxiliary switch element effective upon movement of the auxiliary switch element to its second position with the main switch element in its second position to nullify the auxiliary switch element bias.

11. A device according to claim 9 characterized by means effective upon return of said main switch element to its first position to restore any actuated auxiliary switch element and said auxiliary switch element locking means.

12. A device according to claim 9 characterized by means individual to each auxiliary switch element biasing it toward its first position, means individual to each auxiliary switch element effective upon movement of the auxiliary switch element to its second position with the main switch element in its second position to nullify the auxiliary switch element bias, and means biasing said frame toward its first position.

13. A device of the character described comprising a main switch element movable between a first and a second position, one or more switch elements movable between first and second positions, a frame movable between a first and a second position, a first pin carried by each auxiliary switch element, notches in said frame for receiving said first pins with the frame and auxiliary switch elements in their first ositions,

means effective upon actuation of the main switch element from its first to its second position to move said frame into its second position to disengage said notches and first pins, a second pin carried by each auxiliary switch element, and spring members carried by said frame for engagement by said second pins upon movement of said auxiliary switch elements into second position with said frame in its second position to oppose movement of said auxiliary switch elements and after arrival of said auxiliary switch elements in their second positions to oppose return thereof to first position.

14. A device according to claim 13 characterized by means effective upon return of said main switch element to its first position to restore any actuated auxiliary switch element and said auxiliary switch element locking means.

15. A device according to claim 1 characterized by means effective upon return of said main switch element to its first position to restore any actuated auxiliary switch element and said auxiliary switch element locking means.

16. A device according to claim 5 in which the means for locking the auxiliary switch elements in their second positions consists of pins carried by said auxiliary switch elements and co-operating leaf springs carried by said frame.

17. A device according to claim 9 in which the means for locking the auxiliary switch element in their second positions consists of pins carried by said auxiliary switch elements and co-operating leaf springs carried by said frame.

JOHN H. HOB/MAN. 

